DEL SUR
MANILA, JANUARY 16, 2012
(STAR) By Jaime Laude - Small fish of still unknown species
mysteriously fell from the skies over Loreto town in Agusan del Sur Friday
afternoon during a heavy downpour, leaving residents and officials baffled and
amused.
Blance Gobenciong, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) director in Caraga,
confirmed the phenomenon but offered no explanation.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive
director Benito Ramos also could not provide an explanation for the strange
incident.
"It came with the rain and about a kilo of these live fish is in the aquarium
now," Gobenciong said. Surprised residents went out of their houses despite the
heavy rain to collect the fish that landed on rooftops and on the streets.
Lt. Col. Niel Patricio, commanding officer of the Army's 26th Infantry
Battalion whose unit has operational jurisdiction over Loreto town, said one his
men witnessed the incident. "He reported back to me about what he witnessed and
I instructed him to get or secure even a single sample for us to see and
examine," Patricio said.
He said troops and militiamen were in Loreto to monitor possible flooding as
it has been raining heavily in the area. The nearby Bunawan River is reportedly
in danger of overflowing.
Patricio said the phenomenon might have been triggered by a twister that
sucked out a school of mudfish fingerlings from the Agusan Marsh, which is a
breeding ground for mudfish.
"That's the most logical explanation for now," he said.
Saltwater fish shunned
In a related development, residents of Iligan City are now switching to
freshwater fishes such as tilapia and bangus in the wake of reports that
saltwater fish have feasted on uncollected victims of tropical storm "Sendong"
off Northern Mindanao.
Dr. Livey Villarin, city health official, said local residents have also
avoided eating "kinilaw." Fish vendors in the two public markets in the city are
complaining of low sales of saltwater fish – even those sourced from far-flung
areas such as Zamboanga del Sur.
Villarin assured the public that it is safe to eat saltwater fish as long as
their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed and the fish are
thoroughly washed.
Private sector tapped
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay has tapped the private sector for the
housing and relocation project of the national government for the victims of
Sendong in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Iligan.
Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC) and of the Board of Trustees of the Pag-IBIG Fund, said his office has
partnered with SM Development Corp. (SMDC) for the construction of 100 houses
for Sendong survivors.
"SM was kind enough to donate 100 housing units to the OVP (Office of the
Vice President) for the relocation of families affected by typhoon Sendong. This
is public-private partnership and corporate social responsibility at its best
and in action," he said.
The housing units will be turned over to the Vice President in April, along
with 6,000 other housing units.
"We have already identified the land which will be developed by DPWH
(Department of Public Works and Highways). This will be ready for the houses
before April," Binay said.
Binay recently created a task force which he also heads for the relocation of
all families displaced by the floods.
"Monetary donations will be used by the NHA (National Housing Authority) to
construct houses following one design. Donations in kind, or houses, which may
come in varying designs will be given a specific area, which the DPWH will also
prepare," Binay said.
Binay flew to Cagayan de Oro City last week to inspect the relocation sites
being prepared by the government.
"The houses donated by SM will be permanent structures, unlike the temporary
bunk houses built by DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and the
Red Cross," he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Lino de la
Cruz
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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